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I want to look at the pros and cons from several points of view. Why do we call it “outlaw” ball or renegade paintball? We don’t call tossing the pigskin around the back yard outlaw football. People can get hurt just as easy tackling without pads as playing paintball without proper protection.

Paintball stores benefit the most from outlaw players. A huge percentage of sales are from players that have never been to a paintball field. The most important job of the professional paintball shop is to educate. Making sure all the players have proper safety gear and how to use it, is key. That will not only increase your repore with the customers but also show you are professional. Make sure you pay special attention to the parents. They will ask most of the questions and understand the answers.

I can’t think of any real cons for a paintball store. If you provide great service and prices to these players they will return. They don’t usually play as much as tournament players but paintball isn’t about one group or another. They do tend to buy less paint though, it being more of a social event than a real game. Make sure you cater smaller quantities of paint to these players and they will love it.

From a field owners perspective it can be a little harder to swallow, but it’s not all bad. As a field you need to offer them something they would not want to build on their own. Most players will not sit and write a scenario for their buddies or build a house for CQB combat. These are things that they like to play but lack the time or energy to create. Even if they are not playing every weekend , most players do enjoy going to play at a “real” structured paintball field. Just like the store owner you must educate players at the field. It is much easier to do because you are more hands on with actual game play. They need to see how calls are made and what is not acceptable. You can’t always get the horse to drink, though. They will often do as they please when they leave. I, however, can sleep better knowing I did what I could.

It can bite you in the rear at the field also. Maybe they just want to see what you have on the field so they can copy it. Most outlaw players also complain about the costs of playing at a field. Not all of them understand it’s a business. Of course I charge a field fee because land isn’t free. And paint cost a little more because we have to pay staff. There are several costs to running a field they just don’t understand.  

Players in the “back yard league” can play whenever they want. That is a huge bonus for the busy live most of us parents lead. Their friends can come over, borrow a marker and play. This is the best scenario for the sport as a whole. More people picking up a maker and trying the sport. Not every person was born to be a tournament paintball player. They shoot less paint and, most times, don’t have to travel to play. This makes the sport cheaper for the actual recreational player. You can also not worry about being “thrown to the wolves” by being mixed in with better players. A lot of kids play at a field for the first time and get shot up by frequent players. This spoils the fun of the sport from them and many of them don’t want to play again. Being with only people they know can cater more to their speed of play.

Saturday morning started just like every other at the field. It was however the day of the BT World game and the players would be here soon. Red was already inching ahead in some of the other countries that were hosting the game. Players started arriving to register determined to chisel out there own place in this global game.

Shortly after orientation the field was set and players were readied at their starting points. The horn blew and the game was on. Blue flew across the field like a storm front. Taking the center of the field first gave them the tactical advantage from the start. Several players blew past flags and props alike to close the battle with the opposing team.  The red team held their ground and the blue tide was halted.

            Finally realizing their field position and the points they blindly ran past, the red team backtracked and started retrieving points. It appeared easier said than done. The ammo crates were weighted and not as easy to carry as they anticipated. The center flag was finally turned and points were being tallied there as well. On the other side of the field, red was gathering any points they had access to. They knew they would need to break the enemy lines to get access to that important center flag.

            By lunch break the blue team was far ahead. The red was not going to surrender so easily. Both teams were going to switch sides after the break and the red planning had already begun. With their stomachs full, both teams started out onto the field. New props and missions awaited both teams for even more chances to gain points.

            As the second half of the day started red was determined to change the score in their favor. The starting horn sounded for the second time that day and the red team sprinted forward. They captured the center of the field in short order. Shortly after, the flag was turned and the battle joined. Their front lines held as they gained points and props in the background.

            The blue team pushed and fought. Gaining ground inch by inch, they truly had to earn it all. The enemy was dug in and well prepared for the battle. It didn’t hold for long as the blue closed the gap in the field and captured the center flag. The red team was routed and began an organized retreat, not giving up ground for free. Blue had a steady stream from insertion to battle front.

            In the end, missions had been run and props had been collected. Both teams fought hard and if shot players were worth point the red may have been victorious. Unfortunately they were not and red fell short on points in the end. They were not alone in this world game however and red across the globe was ahead of blue.

            At closing ceremonies players traded stories from the days’ action. The smiles and laughter reminded me of a playground full of children. Exhausted as I was, I laughed a long with them. Times like that remind me that it is all worth it. Fierce battles during the day between people that have never met, and jovial conversation in the afternoon between new friends.

Is paintball a sport or entertainment? Several televised and leisure activities border both terms.  Some would argue that both terms are connected, but I disagree. They may depend on each other for success but still stand alone in their ideals.

A Sport by definition is an activity requiring a certain skill and often of a competitive nature. With that in mind it does qualify. Is that enough to help it survive I often wonder? As video games and the age of on demand TV quickly take root in our youth, less and less seem interested in the physical demands of paintball.

Entertainment is something that affords pleasure, most often a performance of some kind. This is a crucial part of any activity we undergo. Or interest must be gained and maintained for us continue. Does paintball succeed in keeping players entertained? I have sat in conferences that explain paintball as an entertainment sport.  I don’t believe that one aspect can not survive without the other.

It has gotten more affordable in the attempt of the industry to farm new players with varying budgets. Some players gear up and go out to play at their local field. More often than not they are mixed in with players of greater skill. Sometimes to fill out the field and others to offer fodder for better players. Sport for some and wasted money fro others. Many of the unfortunate “newby” players never want to play again. More often than not it is not because of the costs of playing but the lack of entertainment.

            Some players that do wish to continue on their paintball journey become “rouge” players. Not wishing to be constant targets they fill the local woods and backyards anywhere they can. Safety and rules are thrown out the window for these people that were driven away from organization. Most of accidents in paintball happen in these small groups of underground players. Many games can be played outside of the competitive nature with little personal risk. Paintball must be an organized due to its dangerous nature. To be considered entertainment it must be organized.

            Educating parents and players is a challenge that has been on the industries shoulders from the start. The attempt to make the sport mainstream, in my impression, unfortunately failed. Without a media outlet it is had to speed the education process. We know that people fear what they don’t understand. Parents’ fear often out weight children’s’ desires. They must feel comfortable letting their children play such games. This must be achieved to make it a “sport”.

A balance must be achieved for the paintball to survive. Strong leadership must be established to make the necessary change in the paintball industry. It will be in charge of bringing the sport and entertainment aspects together. I don’t know weather it is the job of a single person or a council. It may very well be someone from outside the industry that has the answer. The fact is however unavoidable and must come to pass. Not until then will it be accepted by the masses as a sport of entertainment.  

If you haven’t had the pleasure of seeing the new offering from BT Paintball you are missing out. These markers are top of the line mil-sim machines with a speedball engine. They are light and sleek but can still crank out the firepower. After getting to use one and seeing others in action, they are quite impressive. Feel free to stop by our South Jersey pro shop to check one out or www.btpaintball.com for more details.

We have a few of these makers left. Get them while they last. Only 1000 were made in the olive color. Each with it’s own serial number and matching certificate. All the models I have left, have serial numbers under 20. Get’em now online at STCSports.com or in our South Jersey pro shop.

We have updated the date on this game for November 28th. We have also lowered the registration price to 35.00 for Pre-registration and 45.00 for late registration. It is still a field paint only event and the paint starts at 60.00 per case. It will be a tournament quality paint that has yet to be determined. I hope you all can come out and have some fun playing and learn some local history in the process.

On March 18^th 1778 the British, led by Colonel Sir Charles Mawhood, crossed the Delaware River to forage for food. The American forces were also foraging the same area to feed their armies. The battle took place over the Alloway Creek at a place called “Quintons Bridge”. The Americans removed planks from the bridge after crossing as to not be followed by the British. This would prove to be a fatal error as another British detachment moved in on their side of the bridge. During the fighting some of the Americans tried to cross the river to escape. More than 30 American militia died in the river that day, only one in battle. The surviving American force was rescued by local militia from complete annihilation. It was far from a British victory as they could forage no farther and abandoned Salem County.  How will it end this time around? You will have to build a bridge while foraging for food and fighting the opposing force to find out